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S&D warns against the curbing of minority rights in Israel

The S&D Group in the European Parliament sent letters to president Antonio Tajani and the High Representative of the European Union for foreign affairs, security policy and vice-president of the European Commission, Federica Mogherini, in which the S&Ds expressed concern over the nation-state bill in the Israeli Knesset.

S&D vice-presidents Elena Valenciano and Victor Boştinaru said:

"Israel is a key partner to the European Union in the Middle East. It is in this spirit that we express our deep concern over the nation-state bill currently under debate in the Knesset, which can be interpreted as an attempt to deepen and legalise systemic discrimination against the Palestinian Arab minority in the country. In early December, the Knesset should begin voting on this bill. We therefore urge president Antonio Tajani and High Representative/vice-president Federica Mogherini to raise their voice and to make it explicit that the adoption of this bill in its current shape - against the strong protest of the Palestinian Arab community constituting one-fifth of the population - is incompatible with the basic values of EU-Israel relations and with the image of Israel as a solid democracy in the Middle East. We also reject the unjustified political pressure on members of the Knesset from the Joint List - the third largest political group in the Israeli parliament representing the Palestinian Arab community - following their recent visit to Brussels and meetings with members of the European Parliament."